The History of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore – Redefining Luxury Sports Watches Since 1993

The story of the origins of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore has been told many times, typically casting Stephen Urquhart, then co-CEO of Audemars Piguet, as the visionary mind behind the watch. According to the commonly accepted version, Urquhart’s sharp commercial instincts led him to assign a young designer, Emmanuel Gueit, the task of rejuvenating and masculinising the Royal Oak, which was approaching its 20th anniversary. However, findings by the brand’s Heritage team suggest a different narrative.

The Origins

It turns out that Dierk Wettengel, who had overseen the German market for two decades and had previously commissioned the original Royal Oak logo from graphic designer Olaf Leu in 1972, played a significant role in what would become the Offshore project. Wettengel had advocated for a “statement piece for the 1990s”, inspired by what was described as “the whole cigarette offshore idea”, referring to the high-performance powerboats that were part of the 1980s luxury lifestyle scene.

Supporting this vision, Stephen Urquhart’s note dated February 2, 1989, was accompanied by a magazine clipping featuring the Bullet 31 from the American motorboat brand Cigarette. Motorboat racing was a booming sport then, and Audemars Piguet was deeply involved. In 1986, the Audemars Piguet Offshore team won the World Offshore Racing Championship (6-litre category) in Italy. That same year, the brand sponsored the Audemars Piguet Trophy, a powerboat race from Monaco to Saint-Tropez that included 35 boats and saw Prince Albert II of Monaco take first place.

These were some of the events that ultimately led to the registration of the name “Offshore” on February 22, 1989. Unusually for Audemars Piguet, the Offshore story did not begin with a watch design or a technical innovation but rather with the creation of what Stephen Urquhart later described as an “extremely suitable name”.  At the time, there was no indication that the “Offshore” label would be attached to the Royal Oak. The name was registered independently, possibly with the intention of launching an entirely new line characterised by sportiness, power, and luxury.

However, as the Royal Oak neared its 20th anniversary, it had become something of a classic and, perhaps more worryingly, sales were in steady decline. The once-revolutionary steel sports watch was losing momentum. The idea emerged to inject it with fresh energy, leveraging the “Offshore” concept to appeal to a younger demographic. A young designer, Emmanuel Gueit, was tasked with creating “something young men would want to wear”.

By April 1989, Gueit had produced the first design sketches. His renderings already showcased many of the hallmark features that would define the Royal Oak Offshore: oversized cases, dramatically thick gaskets, crowns wrapped in brightly coloured rubber, rounded links and screws, and even proposals for a compass. The sapphire crystals were topped with magnifying lenses to enhance the legibility of the date. One early design variant explored unconventional materials such as ceramics, graphite, and carbon fibre. A note from Georges-Henri Meylan dated July 1989 references this exact direction.

That same year, Jacques Piguet – owner and director of Frédéric Piguet, a longtime supplier of movement blanks to AP – suggested incorporating a chronograph. Gueit responded with a design based on the FP 1185 calibre.

Ultimately, the compass was abandoned in favour of the classic, sporty chronograph complication. Although the plan was to unveil the new watch in 1992, in time for the Royal Oak’s 20th birthday, the reality proved more complicated. The case was more technically challenging than expected; the bracelet design was incredibly intricate, and issues remained unresolved with the coating of the crown and pushers. As a result, the launch had to be delayed, but the foundation of what would become an icon had already been laid.

Throughout its development, the Royal Oak Offshore faced resistance, both from staff and key stakeholders. The bold design challenged Audemars Piguet’s traditions, and many within the company weren’t shy about voicing their disapproval. When the watch finally made its public debut at the Basel Fair in April 1993, the reception was anything but quiet. Gérald Genta, the legendary designer of the original Royal Oak, was particularly outraged. He famously told Emmanuel Gueit, “You have spoilt my watch, you’re a murderer!” and mockingly likened the Offshore to a “sea elephant”. The nickname “The Beast” quickly caught on.

At the time of the introduction of the ROO, the largest Royal Oak for men – the 1992 Reference 14802 – measured 39 mm in diameter and was a slim watch nicknamed “Jumbo” due to its already large proportions compared to most of the watches available on the market. In stark contrast, the Offshore arrived with a bold 42mm case and a 14.05mm profile, almost double the thickness of a Jumbo. It was unapologetically oversized, rugged, and designed as an assertive, masculine statement piece aimed at a younger audience. Like the original Royal Oak in 1972, the Offshore’s launch stirred controversy. But where some saw sacrilege, others saw the future.

1993 – The first, The Royal Oak Offshore 25721ST, a.k.a The Beast

The inaugural Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore of 1993 had a stainless steel 42mm diameter case (produced by the Geneva manufacturer Centror) with a 14.05mm thickness and blue Therban (a type of rubber that is ultra-resistant to temperature, abrasion, steam and gas) chronograph pushers and crown. The watch had an octagonal bezel lined with a thick rubber gasket, compressed between the bezel and the case middle for both aesthetic and functional reasons, eight signature hexagonal “screws”, a blue Petite Tapisserie dial, and alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces. 

There was a tachymeter scale on the dial’s outer flange, and the sub-dials – running seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters – were positioned in a 12-6-9 layout, with a date window at 3 o’clock. Model 25721ST was one of the very few chronographs on the market offering water-resistance of 100 metres. The first Royal Oak Offshore was also resistant to magnetic fields, as the space inside the case enabled the addition of a soft iron cage to protect the movement. 

The first trial series had no mention of the Offshore name on the screw-down caseback; only Royal Oak was engraved, done “probably to protect the Offshore trademark in case of commercial failure of this non-conformist model”. The reference 25721ST received its first engravings from case No. 100 onwards.

Even though Audemars Piguet had already begun the first attempts to protect the push-pieces and crown by coating them with synthetic material as early as May 1990, in July 1993, after the official launch of the watch, the development was still incomplete. The Jura-based company Pibor (BIWI), which developed the technology, explored uncharted territory by guaranteeing perfect adhesion between metal and rubber, shape retention, and enduring resistance to wear, water, and temperature changes.

To equip the inaugural Royal Oak Offshore, Audemars Piguet opted to rely on a tried-and-tested self-winding movement made by Jaeger-LeCoultre, which belonged to the 889 families of calibres, with a chronograph module produced by Dubois Dépraz, with movement designated as cal. 2126/2840. 

The First Evolutions of the Royal Oak Offshore

Interestingly, in the first three years (1993-1995), only 716 pieces were sold worldwide, with Italy leading the way from the start (as often with AP), but things would change. Rapidly, from 1995/1996, AP initiated launches of ROO versions in different executions, to include references in yellow gold (25721BA), two-tone (25721SA/SR), white gold (25721BC) and platinum (25721PT), with new coloured dials and matching coloured straps as the 25770 series.

Reference 25721BA (1995) was the first all-gold ROO, and it was an important release as it helped position the model as more than just a sports watch, but a true symbol of luxury, using the powerful look and feel – and weight, as it was close to 400 grams – earning the 25721BA the “Pounder” nickname in the USA. The dial and the inner flange were also gold-coloured; dark blue and silver-toned dials were added in 2000 and 2002.

The 25721SA (1995) was a two-tone variant with only the bezel in yellow gold, the studs in steel and the applied indices and hands crafted from white gold – a departure from the standard RO practice of crafting studs, hands and hour-markers in yellow gold for the SA-marked references. Released a couple of years later, the Offshore 25721SR (1997) featured a combination of steel and pink gold, yet chances of encountering it are very slim – only one example was produced.

The reference 25721BC (1996) was a white gold version, pretty much identical in its appearance to the ST reference, if not for the extra shine and eight diamonds replacing the hour-markers, with a weight nearly double that of steel at 410 grams. Remember the “Pounder”, a full-gold, almost 400-gram ROO? Well, the 25721PT (1997) in platinum came into the world, pulling 429 grams on the scale. 

AP introduced 30mm diameter ROO Lady references 79290 and 77151 steel variations with a leather strap – in response to strong demand from customers for a ladies’ version – in 1996, and also medium size 38mm ROO 25807 in yellow gold on a matching bracelet and ROO 25808ST references, with a triple calendar (day, date, month) on leather straps matching the burgundy, emerald and olive green dials with aperture displays at 2 and 10 o’clock and a pointer peripheral date indication.

In 1997, ROO sales went over 1,000 units, with a range of models released to help the momentum. The ROO Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 25854, ROO Dual Time 25970, 25971 and 25972, and the 25844 – an Haute Joaillerie interpretation of the first Royal Oak Offshore 25721BC, full-set, featuring more than 580 diamonds – would follow. AP made the first major upgrade to the movement as the frequency was increased from 3Hz to 4Hz, and the new version of the base calibre was named 2226/2840 (Jaeger-LeCoultre 889/1). Also, in 1997, Arnold Schwarzenegger privately visited the Le Brassus manufacture, and the importance of that event should never be overlooked.

The Royal Oak Offshore 25721TI (1998) was another game-changer, introducing a material that was little used in watchmaking back then, titanium. Again, customer demand for an ROO 42mm watch with a metal bracelet but relatively lightweight prompted AP to make one. While the brand was active in research and applications of titanium since the 1970s and used it once for a tourbillon carriage and the Jules Audemars Grande Sonnerie Models 25750, the ROO reference 25721TI broke ground as it had a titanium case and bracelet. And it reached the goal by reducing its weight by a third compared to steel, at 150 grams, and was a great success for the brand.

The Rich, the Famous and the Limited Editions

As previously mentioned, in 1997, Arnold Schwarzenegger – already a fan and owner of an early Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST – visited the Audemars Piguet manufacture in Le Brassus. Among those who accompanied him was a young salesman named François-Henry Bennahmias (who is visible in the left photo above), who would lead AP’s US operations from 1999 and become the brand’s CEO in 2012. Impressed by the bold Offshore line, Schwarzenegger later hosted Bennahmias in California, where the two agreed to collaborate on a watch. “It has to be black”, Schwarzenegger reportedly said, “and I want yellow numbers”. The result was the 1999 release of the Royal Oak Offshore End of Days ref. 25770SN.

With its neon yellow Arabic numerals and stealthy, military-inspired aesthetic, the End of Days was AP’s first watch to feature a PVD-coated case. It is also considered one of the earliest celebrity collaborations in the luxury watch world – an idea that was groundbreaking at the time, though now commonplace. Unlike the apocalyptic film it was named after, the End of Days watch marked a beginning: it launched a new chapter of high-profile partnerships for Audemars Piguet, significantly boosting the Offshore’s global appeal. The project also supported Schwarzenegger’s Inner City Games Foundation, which offered sports and educational programs to underserved youth across 12 American cities.

Several more limited editions followed, each tied to Schwarzenegger and his philanthropic work. In 2003, AP released the ROO T3 Terminator (Ref. 26029) in titanium with a bold black dial. It was followed by the oversized 48mm All-Star edition in pink gold (Ref. 26158) in 2007 and the Legacy (ref. 26378) in 2011 – an imposing 48mm piece in ceramic featuring titanium push-piece guards and pink gold pushers.

Since the 25770SN End of Days debut, the brand has forged numerous partnerships that fused high-end watchmaking with the worlds of hip-hop, sports, and pop culture. This era saw the creation of dozens of special editions in collaboration with iconic athletes, including the ROO 26030 for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2004, the 26078 for Rubens Barrichello in 2005, followed by models honouring Shaquille O’Neal (Ref. 26133), Sachin Tendulkar (Ref. 26182), and Michael Schumacher (Ref. 26568), to name a few.

The collection also paid tribute to elite sports teams like Alinghi, starting with the Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Commemorative Edition ref. 25995IP (2003) with a dual-time indication, a date indication, and a power reserve indicator, cased in titanium with a titanium bracelet and a platinum bezel, then the Alinghi Polaris ref. 26040ST (2005) with a special new movement featuring a regatta flyback chronograph function. The women’s Ladycat was followed by geography-inspired editions, celebrating global cities as well as shopping locations where AP stores can be found – Rue St. Honore, Rodeo Drive, Orchard Road, etc., and nations through the “Pride of” series, with dedicated releases for Mexico, Russia, Argentina, Indonesia, Germany, Thailand, China and more.

A standout moment came in 2005 with the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26055, commemorating the 10th career anniversary of Jay-Z. The release featured 50 stainless steel pieces with black dials, 30 in pink gold with black dials, and 20 in platinum with blue dials – all distinguished by a diamond-set 10-hour marker and accompanied by an iPod preloaded with tracks from the hip-hop legend.

The Testing Ground for New Materials

The aforementioned titanium “Beast” was just the beginning of Audemars Piguet’s exploration of unconventional materials in the Offshore line. Even during its early design stages, AP was already considering bold choices like ceramics, graphite, and carbon fibre. Following the 1998 launch of the full-titanium ref. 25721TI, the brand introduced the 42mm Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25940SK in 2001. This model, featuring the now-iconic Méga Tapisserie dial and a bezel and strap made of rubber, was an immediate success.

AP introduced the hypoallergenic, colourfast, lighter and harder than steel ceramic in the ROO Barichello in 2006. Carbon fibre soon made its debut in the collection with the 2007 Alinghi Team edition (Ref. 26062), which introduced the industry’s first forged carbon case paired with ceramic pushers. This watch marked the first use of a larger 44mm case size in the Offshore family and was also released in rose gold and platinum variants.

In 2010, the ROO Grand Prix Limited Series 26290IO followed and further pushed the boundaries. It featured a forged carbon case, a bezel combining forged carbon and black ceramic, a blackened titanium crown, ceramic and titanium pushers, and a titanium exhibition caseback with a sapphire crystal. This model exemplifies how Audemars Piguet used the Offshore to experiment with radical materials, colours, and designs – often setting industry precedents in the process.

Also, in 2010, AP watchmakers decided to use cermet, a ceramic and metal composite, to make Royal Oak bezels, as they are the parts most exposed to scratches. ROO limited editions were created, including two in partnership with racing drivers Jarno Trulli (26202AU, 2010) and Michael Schumacher (26568PM, 2012).

Speaking of radical. The unusual design was accomplished two years earlier with the Survirvor 26165 (2008) which came in the titanium case with a PVD treatment topped with a ceramic bezel and fitted with prominent push-button protectors, which give the watch quite an extraordinary look – not to forget the 2011 edition of the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph in a carbon fibre case.

The Royal Oak Offshore Diver

In 2010, Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Offshore Diver as reference 15703ST, an evolution of the earlier Offshore Scuba series. The Scuba line was initially developed for the 100th anniversary of Wempe Chronometerwerke GmbH in 2006 and later launched as a boutique-exclusive edition. Additional limited runs followed, including a 2008 release celebrating the 125th anniversary of Bartorelli, AP’s Italian retail partner, and an ultra-rare version created for the Audemars Piguet boutique on Via Montenapoleone in Milan.

The 15703 marked a shift for the Offshore collection as a non-chronograph model (though not the first one) offering a simple time-and-date function housed in a 42mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 13.8mm. It preserved the bold design language of the Offshore line while introducing two oversized rubber-clad screw-down crowns at 3 and 10 o’clock; one for setting the time, the other to operate the inner rotating diving bezel.

Engineered for serious diving, the watch was water-resistant to 300 meters and featured an anti-magnetic inner casing to protect the movement. Its Méga Tapisserie dial, fitted with applied hour markers and luminescent-coated hands, included the signature double-baton marker at 12 o’clock and a date window with a colour-matched disc for seamless integration. Notably, some of the Scuba editions featured bold Arabic numerals next to equally bold Arabic numerals on the diving scale, and the seconds hand had a baton-style enlarged area for luminous treatment, which was traded for a classic lollipop with the Diver. Lume was not spared, and apart from the hands and indices, the 5-minute markers on the 60-minute dive scale also got to glow in the dark. The ROO Diver came paired with a rubber strap, a tradition which stayed – almost all models in the Royal Oak Offshore Diver collection were and are equipped with a rubber strap, closed with a pin buckle, in contrast to the proprietary double folding clasp featured on practically all ROO models until 2010.

AP chose to equip the Royal Oak Offshore Diver with an in-house self-winding movement, the calibre 3120 that replaced the calibre 2325, AP’s version of the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre used in the early ROO Scuba editions – which was securely sealed under the solid caseback with a raised “Royal Oak Offshore” on a grained background. The world would have to wait for a transparent ROO Diver caseback for a few years, when a boutique special edition of the Ref. 15707CE (2013) in black ceramic made its debut.

Before that, in 2012, AP expanded the series by launching the 15706AU Diver model with a midcase made of forged carbon fiber, topped with a black ceramic bezel and titanium caseback (15706AU.00.A002CA.01). On the black dial, the first 15-minute section of the inner bezel diver scale was highlighted in yellow, the same colour was applied to the minutes hand and part of the seconds hand. The rubber strap featured a titanium buckle.

The already mentioned ROO Diver 15707CE (2013) was presented with a ceramic case, bezel and crowns included, and orange-coloured accents on the dial, and the display case back allowed full view of the Audemars Piguet calibre 3120. A year later, a 15707CB, ROO Diver in white “super ceramic” followed as a boutique exclusive release.

In 2015, five years after the introduction of Diver ref. 15703ST, and experiments with carbon, ceramic and tantalum, AP retired the inaugural steel model and presented a new ref. 15710ST with silvered or black dials, with black or white accents, respectively. Sapphire caseback, previously unavailable on ST Diver references, added a bit of height to the case, now measuring 14.1mm vs 13.9mm of the 15703ST.

In 2016, AP equipped the ROO Diver with a chronograph, with the new ref. 26703 powered by the AP’s 3120 calibre with the Dubois Dépraz 3841 module, a staple in the RO Chronograph series. The horizontal bi-compax layout provided running seconds and 30-minute totalizer subdials. The hours counter and the date were absent, but the inner diving scale remained, as the crown at 10 o’clock to operate it. The screw-down crowns and the chronograph pushers were crafted in black ceramic, the caseback was transparent, and the stainless steel case measured 42mm x 14.75mm, just a bit thicker than the steel time and date Diver 15710.

It’s best to conclude this chapter by mentioning the current ROO Diver time and date reference 15720, introduced in 2021, with some important updates. The stainless steel case retained the 42mm diameter and 14.2mm thickness, the sapphire caseback, ceramic crowns and the 300m water-resistance. The dial was redesigned and now featured the short AP logo, and shorter, nearly square at positions except the cardinal ones, indices, yet the Mega Tapisserie motif stayed. The watch was equipped with a newly developed quick-change strap system. Still, the most important evolution was the movement, as the new reference was fitted with the in-house self-winding calibre 4308.

And now, back to Royal Oak Offshore without the Diver designation.

2018, Marking 25 Years of the Royal Oak Offshore

Since we left the non-diver Royal Oak Offshore storyline in the early 2010s, several key milestones paved the way toward its 25th anniversary. One standout was the introduction to the series of the Audemars Piguet calibre 2885, a highly complex movement combining a split-seconds chronograph, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar with moon-phase. In 2014, the Offshore received a thoughtful refresh. The updates included a sapphire caseback showcasing the in-house calibre 3126, ceramic crown and pushers, and redesigned guards. The Mega Tapisserie dial gained visual depth through circular graining on the sub-dials, slimmer Arabic numerals, faceted hands, and a colour-matched date disc – all adding refinement while preserving the model’s rugged character.

That same year, AP introduced the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph (26388PO) – an evolution of the 2011 model. Again, this fusion of sportiness and haute horlogerie housed the calibre 2897, composed of 335 meticulously finished components, offering 65 hours of power reserve and delivering performance and prestige.

In 2017, ahead of the Royal Oak Offshore’s 25th anniversary, Audemars Piguet reissued the Beast as Ref. 26237ST. With only a few subtle updates, this edition remained almost entirely faithful to the original 1993 model – intentionally skipping many technical and design changes introduced in more recent Offshore iterations. The result is a watch that felt far more classic then, than it did at launch. The 42mm stainless steel case retained its original cushion shape and finishing: vertical brushing, polished bevels, and the signature crown and pusher guards. The octagonal bezel, secured with eight hexagonal “screws” and separated from the case by a bold black gasket, is also untouched in design.

Unlike newer versions that used ceramic for the crown and pushers, the re-edition returned to blue rubber, echoing the 1993 look. The integrated steel bracelet, with brushed surfaces and polished bevels, also makes a comeback, though the clasp has been upgraded to a sturdier butterfly-style version, replacing the thin blade clasp. Staying true to its roots, this anniversary edition featured a closed steel caseback with the original “Royal Oak Offshore” logo instead of a sapphire display. Inside was the in-house calibre 3126/3840, a modular automatic chronograph movement offering 50 hours of power reserve and a familiar 6-9-12 layout.

While the Royal Oak Offshore 25th Anniversary ref. 26237ST paid homage to the past, another anniversary model looked boldly to the future. The Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 25th Anniversary (reference 26421), released in steel and pink gold, showcased Audemars Piguet’s technical mastery and avant-garde design. It reimagined the Offshore’s DNA in a futuristic, architectural form. Ref. 26421 came in a massive 45mm case, brushed and polished with a titanium side guard housing elongated pushers, and an integrated rubber strap with metal links. The crown in black ceramic offered a sleek contrast, but the real transformation happened inside.

AP took a dramatic, transparent approach to the inner structure. The movement and flange appear to float within the case, while the iconic bezel studs, now placed beneath the sapphire crystal, no longer seal the case but instead secure the movement itself, emphasising depth and lightness. At the heart of the watch was a high-performance calibre with twin barrels delivering a 7-day power reserve, a tourbillon at 9 o’clock, and a visible from the back chronograph mechanism with a column wheel. Echoing the watch’s radical design, the movement architecture was fully reimagined for a modern era.

The modern days of the Royal Oak Offshore

Speaking of the modern era, in 2021, Audemars Piguet introduced a major update to the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph – a complete redesign paired with a significant technical leap (Ref. 26420). Housed in a reworked 100m water-resistant 43mm case – available in stainless steel, titanium, or pink gold – the 26420 was subtly refined for better ergonomics. Enlarged polished chamfers, a slightly curved bezel, and reshaped ceramic crown and pushers give it a sleeker look. Except for the titanium versions, all models feature a contrasting black ceramic bezel.

The dial, available in black, blue, taupe, or grey, introduces a new Méga Tapisserie pattern, now with interlinked squares and cross motifs for greater detail. The chronograph layout shifted to a cleaner 3-6-9 subdial configuration, the date moved closer to the edge, and the branding simplified to an applied AP logo. The integrated flyback Calibre 4401, visible through a sapphire caseback, debuted in the Code 11.59 collection, yet here marked its first use in the Offshore line, replacing the older modular 3126/3840 calibre. Calibre 4401 boasted a 70-hour power reserve, a blackened 22k gold rotor, and refined finishing. A new quick-release system allows easy strap changes between rubber and leather options.

2021 was also the year of the return of the Beast, with a modern evocation of the original model, the 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 26238. Available in titanium and gold, the most important model was the steel edition, which kept most of the design cues and proportions of the 1993 model alive. A closer look at the dial reveals that, even though the sub-counters are still at 6-9-12, the indications have moved. The reason behind this new layout is simple: this Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph is now equipped with the brand’s in-house, integrated chronograph, the calibre 4404. The bracelet also features a clever quick-release system.

2023 marked the Royal Oak Offshore’s 30th anniversary and brought a wave of standout releases. For the first time, The Beast appeared in full black ceramic (Ref. 26238CE), paired with a Petite Tapisserie dial, selfwinding Calibre 4404, and a matching ceramic bracelet with a titanium folding clasp. A final yet important moment in the life of the ROO is the launch in 2024 of the reference 15605SK, a return to a time-and-date Offshore in 43mm, powered by the in-house Calibre 4302 and free of any chronograph function.

Concluding thoughts

This, in not-so-short, is how the Royal Oak Offshore evolved since 1993, becoming a cultural icon, not just a horological one. The Beast has had a lasting cultural impact, reshaping the perception of luxury sports watches and challenging traditional norms in watchmaking. With its bold 42mm case, considered oversized at the time, it redefined elegance through power and presence, it marked a departure from the refined Royal Oak and helped ignite the oversized watch trend that dominated the late 1990s and 2000s.

More than a design statement, the Royal Oak Offshore became a cultural icon through its close ties to sports, music, and entertainment. Worn and endorsed by celebrities, the watch blurred the lines between horology and pop culture. Limited edition collaborations were among the earliest successful crossovers between luxury watches and mainstream fame, setting a precedent many brands now follow.

The Royal Oak Offshore also served as Audemars Piguet’s platform for innovation as it pioneered the use of materials like ceramic and forged carbon, experimented with colours and textures, and introduced complex movements in sports watches. Its design and mechanics pushed the boundaries of traditional watchmaking while remaining rooted in craftsmanship. Ultimately, the Royal Oak Offshore helped redefine the modern luxury watch as a super-important expression of identity, style, and status, and its influence continues to be felt beyond the watch industry.